Handheld device carrying case

ABSTRACT

A protective carrying case for a handheld device having an anterior panel connected to a posterior panel and an integrated flap releasably attached to the anterior panel and connected to the posterior panel through a slit. The handheld device is inserted into the carrying case for protection and can be removed by unlatching integrated flap and manually moving the flap outwardly from the interior of the carrying case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a carrying case for handheld devices,such as a personal digital assistant, cellular telephone or portabledigital media player, and more particularly relates to a protective casefor a handheld device having a means by which to aid the removal of thehandheld device from the protective case.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the advancement of technology in the fields of electronics andcomputers, more powerful features and elements have been integrated intohandheld electronic devices. Compact hard drives, processors, and liquidcrystal displays boasting the computational equivalent of desktopcomputers have been integrated into handheld devices the size of acomputer mouse. However, the integration of these innovations intohandheld devices has amounted to the production of very expensive anddelicate devices. Accessories, in the form of protective cases, havebeen produced to keep the handheld devices safe from unexpectedincidents due to mishandling. However, the existing protective cases areoften hindered by the fact that the handheld device becomes difficult toremove once in the case. This problem is further exacerbated by the factthat the added force applied in removing the handheld device from thecarrying case may damage the handheld device.

The public demand for smaller and more compact devices has lead to theproduction of handheld devices comprised of delicate components. Inorder to protect the handheld devices sufficiently the protective casemust cover all portions of the device, as well as provide a snugcompartment in which the device can be secured. However, the inherentrequirement of a protective case providing a snug shielding barrierleads to the difficulty in removing the handheld device from theprotective case.

The present invention recognizes and addresses the particular need for aprotective handheld device carrying case capable of providing a meansfor easily removing the handheld device from the protective carryingcase. The present invention provides adequate protection of the handhelddevice from unintentional mishaps, while integrating a novel means bywhich to remove the handheld device from the carrying case quickly andsafely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a novel protective carrying case forhandheld devices comprising a means by which the handheld device may beeasily removed from the protective carrying case.

More specifically, the case comprises a protective pocket intended toencompass the handheld device, and a flap to retain the handheld devicein the protective carrying case. The flap is integrated into theconstruction of the protective case and encircles the inner housing ofthe protective case.

The flap is permanently attached at one end to the interior of theanterior panel of the protective carrying case at the flap attachmentpoint.

The flap is then routed around the carrying case assembly through a slitfound on the inner surface of the posterior panel of the carrying case.The inner surface posterior panel slit, or flap retention point, isfound near the midsection of the posterior panel. The function of theflap is to retain the handheld device in the protective case and toenable the end user to easily remove the handheld device by unlatchingthe flap and pulling the flap outward, thereby forcing the handhelddevice out of the protective carrying case. The flap is designed toeject enough of the handheld device so as to allow the end user toeasily remove the handheld device. An additional feature of theinvention is a retracting device which functions to return the flap tothe fully inserted position. The retracting device is attached at oneend to the inner surface posterior panel below the midsection, andattaches to the posterior of the flap on the opposite end above theposterior panel midsection.

In accordance with the present invention, the handheld device carryingcase comprises an anterior panel a posterior panel and an integratedflap. The flap is attached to the anterior panel at the flap attachmentpoint and the flap is releasably fitted to the posterior panel at theflap retention point.

The anterior panel is designed to protect the face of the handhelddevice and at least a portion of the side of the handheld device. Theposterior panel is designed to protect the back of the handheld deviceand at least a portion of the side of the handheld device. The anteriorpanel is attached to the posterior panel producing a protective pocketin which the handheld device is fitted. The flap is designed to encirclethe handheld device in the protective pocket and latches to the anteriorpanel at the flap latching point.

The flap is permanently attached to the anterior panel at the flapattachment point. In the preferred embodiment, the flap attachment pointis located on the interior of the anterior panel. The posterior panelhas a sleeve affixed on the interior surface of the posterior panel,configured to allow the flap to pass through the sleeve, referred toherein as the flap retention point. The sleeve is designed to allow theflap to travel in a plane parallel to the plane of the posterior panel.The flap is latched to the anterior panel at the flap latching point,thus encompassing the handheld device in the protective carrying case.

In addition the invention contains a flap retracting device whichreturns the flap to the fully inserted position. The retracting deviceis attached at one end to the inner surface posterior panel below themidsection, and attaches to the posterior of the flap on the oppositeend above the posterior panel midsection. The flap retracting device iscomposed of a flexible material much like an elastic.

In the operation of the invention, a handheld device is inserted intothe protective pocket created by the assembly of the anterior panel andposterior panel. The flap, which is attached at the flap attachmentpoint and retained by the flap retention point, lays in the receivingposition ready to accept the handheld device into the carrying case.After the handheld device has been fully inserted, the remainder of theflap is latched to the flap latching point thereby encircling andsecuring the handheld device.

The handheld device is removed from the carrying case by unlatching theflap from the flap latching point and pulling the flap outwardly fromthe carrying case. The outward motion expands the flap retention deviceand forces the handheld device out of the protective pocket to a limitedpoint. The limited point is determined by the location of the flapattachment point to the anterior panel and the location of the flapretention point of the posterior panel. The limited point of extractionprovides the benefit of the handheld device remaining partially securedby the carrying case, while increasing the ease of removal of thehandheld device. Upon removal of the handheld device from the carryingcase, the flap retracts into the carrying case to its receivingposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handheld device carrying case with theflap fully inserted in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a handheld device carrying case with theflap fully extracted in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a handheld device carrying case with theflap depicting the handheld device fully inserted into the carrying casein accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a handheld device carrying case with theflap depicting the handheld device fully extracted from the carryingcase in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the handheld device carrying casewith the flap in the fully inserted position.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the handheld device carrying casewith the flap in the fully extracted position.

The descriptions which follow are to be understood as illustrative andexemplary of specific structures, aspects and features within the broadscope of the present invention and not as limiting of such broad scope.Like numbers refer to similar features of like elements throughout.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 1, which is aperspective view of the handheld device carrying case 30, comprising ananterior panel 32 a posterior panel 34 and an integrated flap 36, theflap 36 is releasably attached to the anterior panel 32 at the flapattachment point 38 and the flap 36 is fitted to the posterior panel 34at the flap retention point 40.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the anterior panel 32 is designed toprotect the face of the handheld device and at least a portion of theside of the handheld device. The posterior panel 34 is designed toprotect the back of the handheld device and at least a portion of theside of the handheld device. The anterior panel 32 is attached to theposterior panel 34 producing a protective pocket 44 in which thehandheld device is fitted. The flap 36 is designed to encompass thehandheld device in the protective pocket 44 and latches to the anteriorpanel 32 at the flap latching point 46.

Further to FIG. 1, the flap 36 is permanently attached to the anteriorpanel 32 at the flap attachment point 38. The flap attachment point 38is located on the interior of the anterior panel 32. The posterior panel34 has a flap sleeve 42. In the preferred embodiment, the flap sleeve 42is secured to the interior surface of the posterior panel 34 atapproximately the top of the posterior panel 34 and configured to allowthe flap 36 to pass through the sleeve 42. The sleeve 42 is designed toallow the flap 36 to move in a planar direction. The flap 36 is latchedto the anterior panel 32 at the flap latching point 46, thus surroundingat least one surface of the handheld device in the protective carryingcase 30. The flap retracting device 50 is attached at one end to theinner surface posterior panel below the midsection, and is attached tothe posterior surface of the flap above the midsection on the other end.The flap retraction device may be constructed of a suitable elasticmaterial. FIG. 1 discloses the carrying case 30 with the flap 36 fullyinserted to store a handheld device.

FIG. 2, is a perspective view of the handheld device carrying case 30,as described in FIG. 1, depicting the flap 36 in the fully extractedposition. The flap 36 is shown fully extracted to illustrate the degreeto which the handheld device may be lifted from the carrying case 30 toallow for easy removal of the handheld device. The position of the flapattachment point 38 in conjunction with the position of the flapretention point 40 limits the extent to which the handheld device may beextracted from the carrying case 30. In addition FIG. 2 depicts the flapretracting device 50 in its expanded form.

FIG. 3 is perspective view of the carrying case 30 depicting the flap 36in the fully inserted position. Included in FIG. 3 is a handheld device48 depicted to aid in illustrating the functionality of the flap 36.

Further to FIG. 3, the handheld device is fully inserted into thecarrying case 30, thus forcing the flap 36 into the fully insertedposition. The flap 36 may be latched to the flap latching point 46 thussecuring the handheld device 48 into the carrying case 30. The flapretracting device 50 is attached at one end to the inner surfaceposterior panel below the midsection, and is attached to the posteriorsurface of the flap above the midsection on the other end.

FIG. 4, shows a perspective view of the carrying case 30 depicting theflap 36 in the fully extracted position. Included in FIG. 4 is ahandheld device 48 depicted to aid in illustrating the functionality ofthe flap 36. The flap 36 has been unlatched from the flap latching point46 and extracted forcing the handheld device 48 to be partially removedfrom the carrying case 30. Once again the flap retracting device 50 canbe seen in its expanded form.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the carrying case 30 with the flap36 in the fully inserted position, depicting the anterior panel 32, theposterior panel 34, the flap 36, and the path of the flap 36 from theflap attachment point 38, through the flap retention point 40. The flap36 is in the fully inserted position to store a handheld device.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the carrying case 30 with the flap36 in the fully extracted position, depicting the anterior panel 32, theposterior panel 34, the flap 36, and the path of the flap 36 from theflap attachment point 38, through the flap retention point 40. The flap36 is in the fully extracted position to aid in the removal of ahandheld device.

In the operation of the invention, a handheld device 48 is inserted intothe protective pocket 44 created by the assembly of the anterior panel32 and posterior panel 34. The flap 36, which is attached at the flapattachment point 38 and retained by the flap retention point 40, lays inthe receiving position due to the retracting device 50, ready to acceptthe handheld device into the carrying case. After the handheld devicehas been fully inserted, the remainder of the flap 36 is latched to theflap latching point 46 thereby encircling and securing the handhelddevice.

Upon the need to remove the handheld device 48 from the carrying case30, the flap 36 is unlatched the flap from the flap latching point 46and pulled outwardly from the carrying case. The outward motion expandsthe flap retention device 50 and forces the handheld device 48 out ofthe protective pocket 44 to a predetermined limited point. The limitedpoint is determined by the relationship between the flap attachmentpoint 38 to the anterior panel 34 and the flap retention point 40 of theposterior panel 34. The limited point of extraction is critical inensuring that the handheld device 48 is partially held by the carryingcase 30, while increasing the ease of removal of the handheld device 48.Upon removal of the handheld device 48 from the carrying case 30, theflap 36 withdrawn into the carrying case 30 by the retracting device 50ready to accept insertion of the handheld device 48.

While the foregoing detailed description has described severalembodiments of a carrying case 30 in accordance with the presentinvention, it is to be understood that the above description isillustrative only and not limiting of the disclosed invention. Indeed,it will be appreciated that the embodiments discussed above and otherembodiments that are not mentioned could easily be within the scope andspirit of the present invention.

1. A handheld device carrying case comprising: an anterior panel; aposterior panel attached to said anterior panel; and at least one flapadapted to be releasably connected to said anterior panel; saidposterior panel having at least one slit adapted to accommodate thepassage of said at least one flap and to enable said at least one flapto move in a substantially planar direction; wherein said at least oneflap surrounds at least one surface of a handheld device when positionedbetween said anterior panel and said posterior panel and is adapted toremove the handheld device from such carrying case.
 2. The device asdescribed in claim 1 wherein said at least one flap contains aretracting device capable of returning said flap into said carryingcase.
 3. The device is described in claim 2 wherein said retractiondevice contains a flexible material strip permanently attached at oneend to the interior surface of either said anterior panel or saidposterior panel, and permanently attached at another end to said atleast one flap.
 4. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said slitis affixed to said posterior panel on the interior thereof.
 5. Thedevices described in claim 1 wherein said posterior panel issubstantially planar and the plane of movement of said at least one flapis parallel to the plane of said posterior panel.
 6. The device asdescribed in claim 1 wherein said at least one slit is positionedapproximately midpoint on the interior surface of said posterior panel.7. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said at least one flap isreleasably connected to the exterior of said anterior panel at one endand permanently attached to the interior of said anterior panel atanother end.
 8. The device as described in claim 1 wherein saidposterior panel is substantially planar and the plane of movement ofsaid at least one flap is parallel to the plane of said posterior panel.9. A handheld device carrying case comprising: an anterior panel; aposterior panel attached to said anterior panel; and at least one flapadapted to be releasably connected to said anterior panel; saidposterior panel having at least one slit adapted to accommodate thepassage of said at least one flap and to enable said at least one flapto move in a substantially planar direction; said at least one flaphaving a retracting device permanently attached thereto capable ofreturning said flap into said carrying case. wherein said at least oneflap surrounds at least one surface of a handheld device when positionedbetween said anterior panel and said posterior panel and is adapted toremove the handheld device from such carrying case.
 10. The device isdescribed in claim 9 wherein said at least one flap is releasablyconnected to the exterior of said anterior panel.
 11. The device asdescribed in claim 9 wherein said slit is positioned approximatelymidpoint on the interior surface of said posterior panel.
 12. Thedevices described in claim 9 wherein said posterior panel issubstantially planar and the plane of movement of said at least one flapis parallel to the plane of said posterior panel.
 13. The device asdescribed in claim 9 wherein said at least one slit is positioned on theinterior surface of said posterior panel.
 14. The device as described inclaim 9 wherein said at least one flap is releasably connected to theexterior of said anterior panel at one end and permanently attached tothe interior of said anterior panel at another end.
 15. The device asdescribed in claim 9 wherein said posterior panel is substantiallyplanar and the plane of movement of said at least one flap is parallelto the plane of said posterior panel.
 16. A handheld device carryingcase comprising: an anterior panel; a posterior panel attached to saidanterior panel; and at least one flap adapted to be releasably connectedto said anterior panel; said posterior panel having at least one slitadapted to accommodate the passage of said at least one flap and toenable said at least one flap to move in a substantially planardirection; said at least one flap having a retractable device containinga flexible material strip permanently attached at one end to theinterior surface of either said anterior panel or said posterior panel,and permanently attached at another end to said at least one flap.wherein said at least one flap surrounds at least one surface of ahandheld device when positioned between said anterior panel and saidposterior panel and is adapted to remove the handheld device from suchcarrying case.
 17. The devices described in claim 16 wherein saidposterior panel is substantially planar and the plane of movement ofsaid at least one flap is parallel to the plane of said posterior panel.18. The device as described in claim 16 wherein said at least one slitis positioned approximately midpoint on the interior surface of saidposterior panel.
 19. The device as described in claim 16 wherein said atleast one flap is releasably connected to the exterior of said anteriorpanel at one end and permanently attached to the interior of saidanterior panel at another end.
 20. The device as described in claim 16wherein said posterior panel is substantially planar and the plane ofmovement of said at least one flap is parallel to the plane of saidposterior panel.